The dry leaves smell faintly sweet. The smell isn’t strong so I can’t really tell what kind of sweet. But it is pleasant. After a quick rinse, the leaves smelled like sweet tobacco. No fish though so we’re good.

I love the color of tea juice pu-ehr seems to make. Such a delightful dark ruby. I want to like this type of tea simply for that reason. Still no fish so that’s good. Not as fragrant as the last (and only other) pu-ehr I’ve tried but sweet… I can see raisin and maybe fresh cut hay?

Taste wise, this is remarkably inoffensive. I had always heard things about pu-ehr’s taste and my try of the fish pu-ehr (okay, not REALLY fish) pretty much confirmed the horror stories. (Well, not about the nails and bird feathers and cigarette butts because it was loose). So I was preparing for something I’d have to learn to like or look at with a different mindset to enjoy. I was all prepared to tell myself “No no, dirt is a GOOD flavor”. But I find I don’t have to. This is good without having to add qualifiers or adjust my thinking.

Smooth, sweet (but not so much like there is sugar in it though there is maybe a hint of that on the tail), a little dark/wild tasting at the end… maybe hay, maybe fresh, healthy dirt (you know, the rich dark kind with earthworms – and I need to stop that train of thought before this becomes the earthworm tea to me… and it might be too late), maybe some kind of fruit glaze – rum raisin glaze or something. Can’t quite peg it.

I can see the similarities between this one and the fish one I had previous. The sweetness is very similar as is the general expansion of flavors as I sip on it. But this one is much milder and the flavors blend together a bit better without any fish taste so unlike the last one, I don’t have to have multiple steeps before I figure out if I like this. I do. It’s good. I’m not sure if I’m going to be driven to ordering it when I finally place my Samovar order, but I will enjoy this sample.

Hahah! This one wasn’t fishy though! That was all on ROT’s Imperial Republic Pu-ehr. Fish, baby, fish! Sweet glazed fish but totally fish.

Yeah, I’m afraid this one has been dubbed earthworm tea in my head now. Wish I hadn’t had that tangent. But the good news is, it doesn’t TASTE like earthworms. Just earthworm-filled healthy dirt. Which is making me sort of nostalgic since my dad used to raise earthworms when I was little. In his defense, he was a big fisher at the time and was (and still is) a big organic composting dude.

But it is a more fresh-hay-as-it-is-being-ripped-from-bales-and-fed-to-cows tasting tea. Which I would also say brings back fond childhood memories but I won’t since I think I’ve already established that I grew up as a bit of a hick.

Hehe, maiden’s ecstasy make me think of damp forest. Pu-erhs are one of the only teas that I can reliably steep over and over. I let this one sit for minutes and minutes. They’re best when I drink them continuously over a long period of time. I get this lovely floaty feeling.

All this talk about pu-erh and their mysterious taste, I really want to try one! But that involves buying more tea, and I’ve been put on probation from that. This is definitely going on the list of things to try soon.

One thing to consider about pu-erhs is that they are all different depending on how they were aged. From what I have read, the really bad tasting ones were aged wet and this gives them an unpleasant taste.

Alright you guys… I’m going to show you that pu-erh doesn’t have to be… fishy… or even tolerable for that matter… IT CAN BE ENJOYABLE. And possibly even some of the best tea you’ve ever had.

I have COMPLETELY geeked out of Rishi’s Pu-erh Blood Orange, and Pu-erh Vanilla Mint blends. I cannot stop drinking them. I brought both blends (my current obsession) to my family’s Turkey Day dinner back home on the farm… :) … and even those non-tea drinking hicks loved both teas. Then of course I had to sit through a few jokes about the word pu-erh… but I enjoyed the momentary sophistication…

I know you’re hesitant… but try it. Just try it. And let me know when you do. I look forward to your virtual hugs.

Rishi is my pu-erh go-to. They also have a Green Pu-erh Tuo Cha which is fabulous. It’s almost… cidery? It’s so good! But they’re out of stock currently, and it sounds like they will be for a while. (I asked.)

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Hahah! This one wasn’t fishy though! That was all on ROT’s Imperial Republic Pu-ehr. Fish, baby, fish! Sweet glazed fish but totally fish.

Yeah, I’m afraid this one has been dubbed earthworm tea in my head now. Wish I hadn’t had that tangent. But the good news is, it doesn’t TASTE like earthworms. Just earthworm-filled healthy dirt. Which is making me sort of nostalgic since my dad used to raise earthworms when I was little. In his defense, he was a big fisher at the time and was (and still is) a big organic composting dude.

But it is a more fresh-hay-as-it-is-being-ripped-from-bales-and-fed-to-cows tasting tea. Which I would also say brings back fond childhood memories but I won’t since I think I’ve already established that I grew up as a bit of a hick.

Hehe, maiden’s ecstasy make me think of damp forest. Pu-erhs are one of the only teas that I can reliably steep over and over. I let this one sit for minutes and minutes. They’re best when I drink them continuously over a long period of time. I get this lovely floaty feeling.

All this talk about pu-erh and their mysterious taste, I really want to try one! But that involves buying more tea, and I’ve been put on probation from that. This is definitely going on the list of things to try soon.

One thing to consider about pu-erhs is that they are all different depending on how they were aged. From what I have read, the really bad tasting ones were aged wet and this gives them an unpleasant taste.

Alright you guys… I’m going to show you that pu-erh doesn’t have to be… fishy… or even tolerable for that matter… IT CAN BE ENJOYABLE. And possibly even some of the best tea you’ve ever had.

I have COMPLETELY geeked out of Rishi’s Pu-erh Blood Orange, and Pu-erh Vanilla Mint blends. I cannot stop drinking them. I brought both blends (my current obsession) to my family’s Turkey Day dinner back home on the farm… :) … and even those non-tea drinking hicks loved both teas. Then of course I had to sit through a few jokes about the word pu-erh… but I enjoyed the momentary sophistication…

I know you’re hesitant… but try it. Just try it. And let me know when you do. I look forward to your virtual hugs.

Rishi is my pu-erh go-to. They also have a Green Pu-erh Tuo Cha which is fabulous. It’s almost… cidery? It’s so good! But they’re out of stock currently, and it sounds like they will be for a while. (I asked.)

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Sometimes my notices for PMs and such have been questionable. Email me at your own risk at aug3zimm at gmail dot com.

1 – 10 – Bleck. Didn’t finish the cup. 11 – 25 – Drinkable. But don’t punish me by making me have it again.26 – 40 – Meh. Most likely will see if the husband likes it iced.41 – 60 – Okayish. Maybe one day I’ll kill off what I have in my pantry.61 – 75 – Decent. I might pick some up if I needed tea.76 – 85 – Nice. I’d probably buy but wouldn’t hunt it down. 86 – 100 – Yum! I will hunt down the vendor to get this tea!